What Are the Best Chin Botox® Injection Sites?
Botox® (botulinum toxin A) is commonly used to treat cosmetic complaints around the chin, from persistent frown lines and marionette lines (“sad smile” lines) to crepey or dimpled skin (orange peel skin).
This botulinum toxin injection sites diagram shows several common places to inject Botox on and around the chin: the corners of the mouth, the center of the chin, and laterally along the jawline.
Which chin Botox injection sites produce the best results?
Read on for more about the anatomy of the chin, appropriate chin Botox injection sites, and general procedures for chin Botox treatment.
Understanding the Muscles of the Chin
Effectively performing cosmetic procedures with Botox requires a detailed understanding of facial anatomy.
For cosmetic complaints related to the chin and jawline, that means a detailed understanding of the major muscles in the chin:
- Depressor anguli oris muscles (DLO), the “frowning muscle” pair on either side of your chin
- Mentalis muscles, the centrally located muscle pair that controls movement in your lower lip
- Depressor labii inferioris (DLI), another chin muscle that helps control your lower lip
As we age, these muscles become overactive, leading to cosmetic complaints like crepey skin, dimpled skin, and marionette lines. Targeted Botox injections — as well as other minimally invasive treatments, such as dermal fillers — may temporarily alleviate these issues.
Chin Botox Injection Sites
The appropriate injection sites for chin Botox vary by patient. They depend on the type and location of the cosmetic issue being treated, as well as the patient’s unique facial anatomy.
As always, injectors must take care to avoid blood vessels, nerves, and muscle groups not associated with the complaint — any of which can cause undesirable results and occasionally more serious side effects. Review where not to inject Botox before performing any chin Botox procedure.
- Marionette Lines: Botox is injected at the corners of the mouth in the depressor anguli oris muscles. Generally, both sides are treated to ensure symmetric results. Marionette lines treatment requires no more than 6 units of Botox
- Dimpled Chin: Botox is injected in the mentalis muscles, depending on the location of the dimpling. This treatment generally requires 4 to 6 units of Botox. Care should be taken to avoid the DLO muscle, as it plays an important role in the smile motion and Botox can temporarily impede its function.
- Lipstick Lines: Botox is injected above and below the lips. The lower (chin) injection site targets the mentalis muscles. Dosing is generally 6 units or less.
Botox Treatment Procedures for Chin Wrinkles and Dimples
Procedures for Botox chin treatment are similar to other types of Botox treatments, including for musculoskeletal complaints like chronic migraines:
- Clean and sterilize the treatment area
- Apply a topical or injectable anesthetic
- Inject the proper dose of Botox in the affected muscles
- Clean and dress the treatment area
- Provide the patient with post-procedure instructions, including guidance on potential side effects and complications
A typical chin Botox procedure takes no more than 30 minutes.
For more instruction, enroll in an accredited Botox training course led by a board-certified plastic surgeon with years of experience in the field.
